by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

In the round of the last eight, Cuba was put to the sword; Hugo Calderano beat Jorge Campos, the no.11 seed (11-5, 11-7, 11-6, 10-12, 11-3); Thiago Monteiro accounted for Andy Pereira, the no.5 seed (6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 12-10, 11-4).

The round of the last eight negotiated, the good form continued as straight games wins were recorded; Hugo Calderano beat Argentina’s Horacio Cifuentes, the no.,13 seed (11-7, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5); Thiago Monteiro ended the progress of Mexico’s Marcos Madrid, the no.3 seed (11-5, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6).

One round earlier at the quarter-final stage, Horacio Cifuentes had caused the one upset of the round by defeating Chile’s Felipe Olivares, the no.8 seed (11-6, 11-8, 11-3, 11-7); as status advised, Marcos Madrid had halted any aspirations harboured by Ecuador’s Alberto Miño, the no.6 seed (12-10, 12-10, 6-11, 11-8, 12-10).

Gold and silver guaranteed in the Men’s Singles event for Brazil; in the Men’s Doubles, a further medal is assured, the colour unknown.

Vitor Ishiy and Eric Jouti, the top seeds, booked their place in the final courtesy of a penultimate round success against Paraguay’s Marcelo Aguirre and Axel Gavilan, the no.14 seeds (6-11, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10); a partnership, who at the quarter-final stage, had caused an upset of note. They beat Chile’s Gustavo Gomez and Juan Lamadrid, the no.4 seeds (11-8, 11-9, 11-2).

Likewise, in the opposite half of the draw a surprise pair reached the semi-final round; Alberto Miño in harness with Ecuadorian colleague, Emilian Riofrio, the no.6 seeds, ousted Argentina’s Gaston Alton and Horacio Cifuentes in a dramatic five games quarter-final duel determined by the very narrowest of margins (11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 7-11, 13-11).

An unexpected success for the Ecuadorians but there was to be no further progress; at the semi-final stage they were beaten by Jorge Campos and Andy Pereira, the no.2 seeds (11-7, 11-9, 11-3).

The Men’s Doubles and Men’s Singles finals will be played later in the day.